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An exploratory study of BDNF and oxidative stress marker alterations in subacute and chronic stroke patients affected by neuropathic pain

  • Neurology and Preclinical Neurological Studies - Original Article
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Abstract

Patients affected by stroke, particularly subacute stroke patients, often complain of neuropathic pain (NP), which may severely impair their quality of life. The aim of this exploratory study was to characterize NP and to investigate whether there is a correlation between NP and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and serum markers of oxidative stress. We enrolled 50 patients divided in subacute (< 90 days from stroke onset) and chronic (> 90 and 180 < days from stroke onset). The Barthel Index, Deambulation Index, and Short Form 36 were used to assess the patients’ degree of disability and quality of life. Pain-specific tools, namely the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Neuropathic Pain Diagnostic questionnaire (DN4), and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), were also used. Serum levels of BDNF and markers of oxidative stress and of metal status were evaluated: copper, iron, transferrin, ferritin, ceruloplasmin concentration (iCp) and activity (eCp), Total Antioxidant status (TAS), Cp/Tf ratio, eCp/iCp ratio, and non-ceruloplasmin bound copper (Non-Cp Cu). We found the highest value of BDNF in subacute with NP (DN4 score ≥ 4). The TAS, Cp/Tf ratio, and eCp/iCp not only fell outside the normal reference range in a high percentage of subacute and chronic patients, but were also found to be related to specific NP symptoms. These preliminary results reveal altered BDNF and oxidative stress indices in subacute stroke patients who complain of NP. These investigative findings may shed more light on the mechanisms underlying NP and consequently lead to a more tailored therapeutic and/or rehabilitation procedure of subacute stroke patients.

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Author notes

  1. Mariacristina Siotto and Irene Aprile have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS Foundation, P.le Morandi 6, 20121, Milan, Italy

    Mariacristina Siotto, Irene Aprile, Costanza Pazzaglia, Massimo Santoro, Isabella Imbimbo & Luca Padua

  2. AFaR Division, Service of Medical Statistics and Information Technology, Fatebenefratelli Foundation for Health Research and Education, Lungotevere de’ Cenci, 5, Rome, Italy

    Ilaria Simonelli

  3. AFaR Division, Fatebenefratelli Foundation for Health Research and Education, Isola Tiberina, Rome, Italy

    Mariacarla Ventriglia

  4. Molecular Marker Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy

    Rosanna Squitti

  5. Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Luca Padua

Authors
  1. Mariacristina Siotto
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  2. Irene Aprile
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  3. Ilaria Simonelli
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  4. Costanza Pazzaglia
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  5. Mariacarla Ventriglia
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  6. Massimo Santoro
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  7. Isabella Imbimbo
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  8. Rosanna Squitti
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  9. Luca Padua
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Correspondence to Mariacristina Siotto.

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Siotto, M., Aprile, I., Simonelli, I. et al. An exploratory study of BDNF and oxidative stress marker alterations in subacute and chronic stroke patients affected by neuropathic pain. J Neural Transm 124, 1557–1566 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1805-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1805-9

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